There’s a whole complicated background to Everett Shostrom’s “Gloria” films of 1964, much of which I’m not au fait with. The three films, as I understand it, were the first time that then famous psychotherapists worked with a (same) real client, on film – these giants being Carl Rogers (human -centered), Fritz Perls (old-fashioned not-so-relational Gestalt) and Albert Ellis (rational emotive behaviour).
Notwithstanding the ensuing controversy over the films (summarised well in this Counselor Magazine article – Lessons from the Legend of Gloria) I think the Carl Rodgers piece still looks good.
(The Perls piece, of which I’ve also seen clips, appears in contrast to be somewhat of an embarrassment to what we now call Gestalt – which has, I’m pleased to say, significantly changed its focus to a more relational model.)
There’s also a book by Gloria’s daughter (Pamela Burry – Living with the Gloria films), which I imagine would make interesting reading, and which takes the story further. (You can pick up aspects of the story in the comments to the videos, links to which appear below.)
But here’s the Carl Rogers piece (on YouTube) – an introduction to the half-hour therapy session with Gloria. Watching this I was struck by the ease with which he lays out some of the core tenets of the humanistic approach to psychotherapy – in a way that’s still very current after more than 40 years.
It’s the part where he talks of the “prizing of the person” that I find particularly appealing – an attitude that for me maximises the chances of real work being done between therapist and client. His initial meeting with the client is genuine, understated, and facilitating of the process. And as the interview unfolds (parts 2 to 5) he appears to genuinely prize this person with whom he’s working.
The other parts of the session are in these clips:
Carl Rogers and Gloria – Part 2
Carl Rogers and Gloria – Part 3
Carl Rogers and Gloria – Part 4
Carl Rogers and Gloria – Part 5
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Much of what Perls incorporated into Gestalt theory was not of his own making e.g. concepts recerarding the narue of phemomena and existential percpetion.
What I still assert is he treated Gloria badly. Whether he sought to deomonstrate ‘techniques’ or what, he did not engage her as a feeling person who was doing her best to gain insight.
Perhaps some will benefit from being called a ‘phony’, but most will not and become defensive. A more getnle form of confrontation was exhibited by Rogers when he said to Gloria “The person I feel you are not being fully honest with is you”. She was able to take this and consider it.
Therapy is not simply putting the client on the spot. On the contrary, it is about helping them to find an way or ways out of suffering, pain and dysfuctional life situations and relationships.
Hi everyone
I’m a young psychologist from Italy. I saw the film twice, but my inglish is not so good to understand every word. I ask you if you know a script or a paper (on the web) of the video that let me read it and the translate it. I want to capture the difference among this three king of humanistic approach.
Thanks everyone for helping.
Stefano Parenti
Hi Stefano,
I have not been able to find the transcript online, and don’t know of a book in which it is reproduced in its entirety. A search for “carl rogers gloria” in google books does give some interesting results though. Good luck with your studies.
Ron
I’ve been trying to find a video I once saw of a session with Rogers and a woman (not Gloria) discussing her difficulty with getting emotionally close to men. I believe it was from 1980 or thereabouts. Does this sound familiar to anyone? I’ve searched youtube and the like to no avail. Thanks for any help.
Hi Brian,
Thank you for that information about Gloria. There were many rumours surrounding how she died and you have cleared that up for me.
Do you have the script?? I am Indonesian and I can’t get clearly the conversation?? Thanks.
Sorry Anna, no script. Maybe someone could create one?
The book by Gloria’s daughter is easily available brand new for £12.99 from http://www.pccs-books.co.uk who turn around orders very quickly. Have just got and read the book. It’s more about Pamela herself, the daughter, than Gloria but does give some insights into this famous client who was in many ways quite extraordinary. Gloria died aged 45 in September 1979 after a short illness (not suicide as has been rumoured). A post-video incident where Fritz Perls flicked cigarette ash into Gloria’s hand is more worrying than his demo video as these are rarely perfect for any therapist. What is also worrying is the psychological journal’s rejection of Gloria’s attempts to voice her opinion of what happened. This book partially redresses the balance for Gloria and probably should be read by anyone using the “Three Approaches to Psyhotherapy” videos.
I almost forgot, over here in Australia Pamela J Burry’s book on her mother Gloria is not available.
I have admired Gloria’s courage in doing those interviews and have used them in teaching counselling. I have seen them myself so many times I know them by heart and feel almost as if I know Gloria.
There have been numerous rumours regarding how Gloria died. Could someone clear that up for me? It would be much appreciated.
Yes, the book’s on Amazon second hand, starting price $70 or so, but that seems excessive. I would also like to read it, as, like you, I think Rogers does beautiful work in the films and I’d like to know more of the after story. Thanks for the comments.
My counselling tutor told me that Gloria committed suicide and there was some controversy over why. This included ethical debate over whether this was a direct or indirect result of the films and ‘making the personal public’.
Fo rme the irony of the Fritz Perls interview is how he treated Gloria as a object of his percpetion to be manipulated for ‘show business’ purposes.
While Perls claimed to be a humanist the way he treated many of those around him was anything but humane.
What the interview shows is that Perls confused confrontation with attack and that confronting a client can be both profound and gentle.
Gloria: I would like to know Goria’s background inregards to her parents and environmental background. Is she from a farming background or rural, Or city?
I am currently talking about Carl Rogers film Gloria, and our class is currently engage in human centred counselling. We observed the film of Carl Roger and Gloria, but need to fill in some gaps, hence the questions above.
Although I haven’t read it, I’ve heard this book is good:, and it may give you some of that background: Living with ‘The Gloria Films.
The book is very good, and I recommend it. I don’t remember alot about the details of her background. She is Polish and Catholic, but left the church eventually. Her daughter tells an interesting story in the book about Gloria disclosing during a confession that she was using birthcontrol. She was told to leave the church and was barred from taking communion. Her husband was allowed to continue on as always though. I think this tid bit of background relates to here concerns about her more devilish side.
I’m not sure I agree with you saying that the video with Perls is an embarrassment. Perls was the founder of Gestalt therapy and that was exactly how he meant for it to be. I don’t agree with his theories 100% but there are some very, very great techniques that he uses. Since that is exactly what he was trying to accomplish I don’t think it’s an embarrassment, although I have a feeling he would think contemporary Gestalt is an embarrassment!
Thanks Aidan, nothing like lively poles of opinion! Of course you are right too, there is a lot from Perls that is fantastic, and we wouldn’t be doing Gestalt now without him.